And david i



(No Model.)

W. o. EAKEIGET. aan. 1. GREEN.

WIRE FENCE 1.00K.

E 1 E E E M y@ mlur .hnwf l W H ,Inu a.

. VILLIAM O. EAKRIGHT, OF BUTLER,

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

INDIANA, AND DAVID'I. GREEN, OF

FRONTIER, MICHIGAN.

WIRE-FENCE LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 564,187, dated July 21, 1896.

Application filed March 20,1896. n Serial No. 584,162. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit knownthat We,WILLIAM O. EAKEIGHT, residing at Butler, in the county of Dekalb and State of Indiana, and DAVID I. GREEN,

residing at Frontier, inthe county of I-Iills,

dale and State of Michigan, citizens of the United States, have invented a new and useful Wire-Fence Lock, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to locks or fasteners for the line wires and stays of wire fences which are to be located at the points of crossing of the said wires by the stays; and the object of the improvement is to supply a cheap and effective fastener for the purpose aforesaid, which when properly applied will prevent any movement of the Wires, thereby securing them in fixed relation under all conditions.

The improvement consists, essentially, of a block, cast or otherwise formed, having a slot extending in from one side and having an opening at right angles to and intersecting with the slot and elongated in the direction of the latter, and a taperingkey to be driven into the said elongated opening to bind and secure the parts after the block has been f1tted to the wire and stay, said key being iiat tened on one side to obtain an extended bearing against the wire adjacent thereto, and the reduced end of the key being bent to prevent the accidental displacement of the key after it is driven home.

For a full understanding of the merits and advantages of the invention reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings and the following description.

The improvement is susceptible of various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and to a full disclosure of the invention an adaptation thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is an elevation of a part of a panel of wire fencing, showing the invention applied. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the lock or fastener, showing it in operative relation. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the block. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the tapering key. Figs. 5

and 6 are sectional views ofthe block, having the parts in position.

The part of a panel of wire fencing is shown to illustrate the application of the invention, and comprises line or fence wires l and vertical stays 2. The lock 3 is located at the crossing of each line or fence wire by the stays. This lock comprises a block 4, of cast metal or otherwise conveniently formed, the 6o same having a slot 5 extending therein from one side and formed with an opening 6 at right angles to the slot 5 and intersecting therewith, and elongated in the direction of the slot. After the line or fence wires have been strung in the usual way the blocks are fitted thereto, commencing with the topmost wire, by placing the block so that the said wire will enter the slot 5, after which the stay 2 is thrust through the opening 6, and a 7o second block is similarly applied to the fencewire immediately below the top wire and the stay is moved down so as to pass through the opening thereof, and each wire in succession has a block secured thereto in the manner aforesaid, the several blocks being in vertical alinement, provided the stays are to occupy a perpendicular position.

The block is secured to the wires at the point of crossing by a key 7, the latter being 8o driven or forced into the opening 6 so as to cause the parts to bind, whereby they will be held against accidental displacement or from becoming loose. This key is attened on one side to obtain an extended bearing against the adjacent side of the fence-wire, and tapers to a point, so that the latter can be bent to one side of the fence-wire to prevent the accidental withdrawal of the key after it has been driven or forced home. The ends of 9o the opening G are round to conform to the rounded sides of the key and stay, thereby admitting of these parts obtaining a snug fit within the opening. The rear end of the opening 6 comes in the rear of the closed end 95 of the slot 5, thereby admitting of the slot being of minimum depth consistent with strength and the efficiency of the lock.

The lock or fastener herein described is effective for the purpose designed, and can be Ioo manufactured in large quantities at small cost, and can be applied to wire fences already in use Without any special provision or construction.

The lock when properly applied will not become accidentally loosened or displaced either by corrosive action, contraction and expansion of the Wires, or. by vibratory movements of the latter. Hence the fastener fulfils all the requirements in providing a simple device, which at the same time is economical and can be placed in position without requiring one skilled in the handling of tools for the purpose.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new isl. A lock or fastener for intersecting or crossing wires, the same comprising` a block Vhaving a slot extending therein from one side and having an opening at right angles to an d intersecting with thc slot and elongated in thc direction of the latter, the rear end of the elongated opening extending in the rear of the closed end of the slot, and a key tapering to a point and having a iiattened side, and adapted to be forced into the elongated opening and become seated in that portion of the openin in the rear of the slot, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a Wire fence, the combination with a line-Wire and a stay crossing the line-Wire, of a lock or fastener for securing the line-wire and stay at the point of crossing, and comprisin g a block having a slot extendin therein from one side and formed with an elongated opening extending at right angles to and intersecting with the said slot, and having its rear end extending in the rear oi' the closed end of the said slot, the line-Wire entering the slot, and the stay passing through the front end portion of the opening, and a tapering key having a flattened side forced into the rear end of the elongated opening with its flattened side against the line-Wire7 and having its tapering end bent to one side to prevent the outward displacement of thc key, substantially in the manner set forth.

In testimony that `We claim. the iforegoin as our own We have hereto afiixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

'WILLIAM O. EAKRIGlIT. DAVID I. GREEN.

Witnesses:

ROBERT W. SWIFT, MARION PALMER. 

